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Kansas – the sunflower state and a real down home comfort place.
I’ve been to Kansas. Our daughter lived in Wichita and then in Dodge City. The little bit we saw was down home hospitality and total comfort food. I was on a hot wing quest at the time and found some amazing ones in Dodge City, but the star for me was the chicken fried steak.
As I did a little research I found that the chicken fried steak is pretty popular throughout the whole state. While it’s doubtful that this total comfort food originated in Kansas (the first recipe for it is found in a Los Angeles newspaper in the 1920s), recipes for this dish were published in Kansas in the 1930s and 40s. Texas and Oklahoma also claim to have created it, but the evidence is stronger for Kansas. Found in many states, in many versions, this Kansas staple is made with a milk based gravy and lots of pepper!
Here’s How to Do it:
Start by pounding the steak with a meat tenderizer. Not only does this make it fork tender, it helps the coating to stick better.
Next, mix the flour with the salt, pepper and garlic powder, blending well.
Place each steak in the flour to coat it.
Whisk the egg with the water, then dip it into the egg mixture followed by
a dip in the bread crumbs.
Fry it about 5 to 10 minutes then turn.
Both sides should be golden brown.
Remove from pan and drain on paper towels.
Now the gravy. In a heavy skillet, melt the butter.
Slowly stir in the flour and cook until it begins to turn golden.
Whisk in the milk and continue whisking until it’s starting to thicken.
Stir in the salt and pepper.
Serve the steak with mashed potatoes and
smother it all with the gravy.
Pure Comfort.
© Copyright 2019 The Lazy Gastronome
One of the most popular dishes in Kansas - Found in many states, in many versions, this Kansas staple is made with a milk based gravy and lots of pepper!
- 1 to 1-1/2 pounds beef sirloin steaks (4 steaks)
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon cold water
- 1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 2 cups milk
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Start by pounding the steak with a meat tenderizer. Not only does this make it fork tender, it helps the coating to stick better.
-
Next, mix the flour with the salt, pepper and garlic powder, blending well. Place each steak in the flour to coat it.
-
Whisk the egg with the water, then dip it into the egg mixture followed by a dip in the bread crumbs.
-
Fry it about 5 to 10 minutes then turn. Both sides should be golden brown.
-
In a heavy skillet, melt the butter. Slowly stir in the flour and cook until it begins to turn golden. Whisk in the milk and continue whisking until it's starting to thicken.
-
Stir in the salt and pepper.
-
Serve the steak with mashed potatoes and smother it all with the gravy.
Here are some things that are perfect to use for this recipe!
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I admit I’d never heard of the Kansas version of this although apparently it has spread well beyond Kansas, too… This sounds tasty and warming at night. Thanks for sharing with Fiesta Friday!
There are so many versions of this dish – even within Kansas!! Thanks for stopping by.
I just wanted to thank you for this fun series you’ve been doing to showcase local food from each of the states. This summer I did a “Summer Around the United States” project with my daughters where each day of summer we learned about a different state or territory. We didn’t focus on food for every state, but your posts were the inspiration for many of the states where I did choose to focus on food. We ate crab cakes for Maryland, made boiled peanuts for Georgia, ate a lobster roll at a Cousin’s Maine Lobster food truck, and ate shrimp and grits (although we did it when we learned about South Carolina rather than Alabama!) During the summer we were also fortunate to take a road trip through 16 states so we made sure to eat at a Maid Rite when we were in Iowa. It’s been so fun seeing which recipes you choose for each state and I look forward to trying out more! Thanks again for this great idea!
Sheri this sounds like so much fun!! I love your idea – Did you chronicle it on your blog? I’d love to read it. I’m so jealous for your road trip!! I’d love to do that sometime. Thank you for sharing this amazing event and idea – hope it inspires others too!
Thank you! I did finally finish a blog post about everything we did this summer. Thanks again for the inspiration! https://www.afunandfrugallife.com/summer-around-the-united-states-a-fun-summer-learning-project-for-kids/
What a fun summer!! I’m jealous – I’ve shared your post too. I think this is such a fun way to learn about the states. Thanks for sharing the link with me.
YUM! Reminds me of a meal at Cracker Barrel. Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 4. Shared.
Thanks Dee – I love your parties. Thanks for stopping by.